Hooper hits hat-trick for Hoops

26 November 2011 05:16

Gary Hooper grabbed a hat-trick in a 5-0 demolition of St Mirren at Parkhead to help take Celtic to within four points of Clydesdale Bank Premier League leaders Rangers.

Dreadful defending by the visitors allowed Georgios Samaras to open the scoring in the fourth minute with Hooper grabbing his first four minutes later from close range.

The former Scunthorpe striker scored twice more early in the second half before substitute Dylan McGeouch scored his first for the club in the 72nd minute with a wonderful solo effort, which began when he won the ball up in his own half.